Principal Automation Systems Engineer

Title: Principal Automation Systems Engineer  

Division: Development & Engineering (D&E) 

Reports to: Manager, Automation Systems Engineering 

Location: London 

Job Status: Full Time 

About Vantage Data Centers 

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across several markets in North America and EMEA, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands. Vantage’s business is growing exponentially through a combination of greenfield market expansion and acquisitions across North America and Europe. 

D&E Department

The Development & Engineering (D&E) team drives the technology, innovation and new development of data center infrastructure across Vantage’s companywide portfolio.  D&E evaluates new sites, drives cost and scheduling in line with corporate goals and serves as subject matter experts across the entire project lifecycle from concept through commissioning. The team collaborates with Sales, Operations and management along the way. D&E also works hand in hand with the Construction team to come up with a vertically integrated design and ensures new and existing standards and designs are executed effectively.  One thing that distinguishes Vantage is that our technical staff are given the responsibility and authority to directly drive tangible results.  Our team can align long-term operational sustainability with value engineering and cost metrics to deliver products aligned with corporate goals.  This approach empowers each member of the team to drive high-impact decisions and results. 

Position Description

Vantage is looking for an ambitious, detail-oriented, hands-on Principal Automation Systems Engineer to head software development for construction of Vantage facilities. You will review sequence of operation documents, instrumentation diagrams to develop logic control software and visualization applications for new builds on a variety of system platforms. You will also be called on to troubleshoot existing automation systems in a live, mission-critical environment, and complete startup, commissioning and validation procedures on new and existing mission critical data center infrastructure. You will be required to create and review design documentation, review submittals from suppliers to ensure compliance with automation build of design standard. 

Essential Job Functions

• Develop and deploy new PLC applications for control system projects, with minimal supervision 

• Complete PLC application modifications in an online, critical environment 
• Troubleshoot and resolve PLC, network and other critical control system issues during an incident 
• Support data center operational and commissioning activities to ensure optimal performance of systems with mission critical features 

Duties

• Support commissioning activities and work collaboratively with consultants, suppliers and system integrators to ensure all field devices are properly configured with the correct network addressing details 
• Coordinate integration support schedules, allowing for sufficient time to program, test, and commission mission critical control systems 
• Examine project documents, including Sequences of Operation, Bill of Materials, Process and Instrumentation Diagrams, BMS Panel Drawing Schemes and project schedules when developing automation logic and visualization applications 

• Support in technical review of design, construction and supply of building management services (BMS) panels 
• Contractor management and ensuring deliverables are tracked and delivered to schedule 
• Support in the design of Controls Architecture Documents to include Networking Topology & IP Scheme for new data centers 
• Train Data Center Operations personnel how to troubleshoot the PLC platform for Critical Facility system monitoring and incident investigations 
• Support internal automation reviews to align with Vantage and industry standard specifications with considerations to network optimisation and cyber resilience 

• Support the development and implementation of the controls and automation scope for new projects and existing applications 

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Suitable background in Computer Science, Mechatronics or equivalent work experience is desirable but not required 
• 5 years of experience in the design of mission critical programs with Allen-Bradley Compact and Control Logix PLCs is essential , 7 to 9 years is preferred 

• Substantial experience in design and development of mission-critical control systems for HVAC and BAS/BMS 
• Expert knowledge of automation systems (control loops, field IO, etc.) in a mission critical environment 
• Substantial experience with instrumentation and control engineering design for effective process control 
• Knowledge of industrial PLC systems manufactured by leading edge, large-scale vendors. 
• Data Center commissioning experience is required 

• Project and technical resource management experience is preferred but not required 
• Travel required is expected to be 25 to 50% but may increase over time as the business evolves 

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer